Based on the French comic series first published in 1967 and reappearing again in 2010, Valérian and Laureline; the trailer is full of astounding moments that dazzle the eyes (that PALETTE, though?!) and are all the more amplified by the surge of emotions provided by the addition of the very first original recording by the Beatles to ever appear in a movie trailer!

Sounds like a big feat, but apparently all it took was for Luc Besson to ask Paul McCartney himself.

“I just asked! We reached out to Paul McCartney, and he asked, ‘What is the film?’ and then he said yes! I never met him – I wish I could, to thank him. From what I heard, he’s seen a couple of my films…There is a vibe that I think, from what I heard, made him say, ‘For this one, because it’s at least new and fresh.’ So I think that he likes that. He likes to be part of something new.” {source}

While the French director certainly isn’t a stranger to the genre of science fiction, count on today’s advances in technology breaking the walls down for true aesthetic mastery, much the same way he did years ago with the stellar 90s masterpiece “THE FIFTH ELEMENT“!

We had been anticipating watching this one for some time, and finally this past weekend we indulged in a masterpiece called Suspiria! Starring a young Jessica Harper who’s starred in The Phantom of theParadise and Rocky Horror Picture Show II, and keeps us entertained to this very day as the Crabby Cook.

This is tale of an elite european ballet School where collecting on debt is a ‘charming habit’ of the students(insert the very sexy and very shadey Barbara Magnolfi), and the teacher’s and staff know more about the historic ballet school then they’d ever to let on.

From the Blind Pianist, to a creepy little blonde boy, this flick has got it all, including a killer soundtrack!

Drawn in by the Euro-Horror King, Dario Argento’s name alone, we knew we’d be in for some fun gore, sexy girls, and supernatural spooks, but were clueless to where the story may lead us other than reading a brief synopsis before hand. To our delight, every scene was as beautiful as the last!

With a set as beautiful as any work of art, adorned in blue and red velvet wallpaper, labyrinths of stripes, a wide assortment of stained glass windows, shiny black lackerred wood panels and door’s, mile high ceilings, and an opulent Serpent staircase we’d love to climb.

We are introduced to the school through the eyes of a wide -eyed newcomer , played by Jessica Harper, who quickly grows suspicious of the happenings within the domineering school.

Upon her arrival, she witness a leggy buck-toothed blond fleeing from the school in a rainstorm, and learns the next morning of the school escapees dreadful fate (emphasis on the wide assortment of stained glass…).

Odd events lead to odder. Must be more than Voodoo? With everyday shrouded in mysteries, it isn’t until our heroin shares her suspicions with her classmate, played by lovely Stefani Casini, that the puzzle truly begins to come together. Leading Harper to a Psychiatric Convention and conversations of Witches and Covens. Speculation leads to proof when it’s realized the Ballet school was founded by a great and powerful Witch who was said to be killed in a fire at the turn of the century.

If you’re a fan of Black Swan or Rocky Horror Picture Show, this one’s for you!

This is no chick flick by any means despite the gaggle of gals in ballet shoes. Scene after scene, Dario Argento will keep you shocked and in suspense as this tale unravels. Enjoy the Eyeful of opulence but be prepared for some gross yet charming gut-turning death’s.

Maleficent has always been a character that has captured our imagination. Since childhood, the prima donna of Disney villains seemed to strike a creepy chord in a way that no other cartoon evil could.

It could have been her sultry voice provided by the insatiably listenable Eleanor Audley (check her out in all her non-animated glory below), or perhaps it’s the sheer imagery of that everlastingly long black cloak with those crazy twisted ram horns that make her the epitome of devilish delight to our child-like eyes.

Whatever it may be, there’s no denying the staying power of she. It’s been 55 years since Disney first released its vivid version of Sleeping Beauty based off of Charles Perrault’s La Belle Au Bois Dormant, and the Grimms Brothers’ Little Briar Rose, and in the spirit of regeneration the {past} has made its way to the {present} yet again in a epic retelling of the story as seen through the eyes of the maniacal maven herself. . .

It’s a name that will be on everybody’s lips in a few short months with an early release in France & Italy on the 28th of May, and the rest of the world, including the US on the 30th. It’s months away, but we can’t stop drooling over the new trailers which are feast for the senses in themselves, showcasing Elle Fanning’s angelic beauty as the Princess Aurora, and the Queen herself, Angelina Jolie taking the screen as the iconic villainess.

It’s bound to be a huge hit, and much praise shall be given to the cast and crew for creating this movie magic marvel. . . there’s no doubting it. Plus, how can you go wrong with Angelina Jolie leading the whole thing?

What strikes me most is that the film being told through the point of view of Maleficent will no doubt shed some light on why she decided to become so damn mean. I think I kind of get it – I mean, she was totally shafted from attending Aurora’s birthday party. That IS pretty rude, don’t you think? I guess we will just have to wait for all the insight . . .

In the meantime, you will find us getting drunk on another amalgamation of the {past}, {present}, and {future} with Lana Del Rey’s sweeping take on 1959’s Sleeping Beauty’s original love theme “Once Upon a Dream” based off a theme from Tchaikovsky’s 1890 ballet. With the cooing of her Monroe-esque voice, there was no one more perfect to elevate this classic to a place that resonates today, and beyond . . .

Listen to it below!

Don’t you love that feeling? Of having dreamt the moment before it happens . . .

“Stoker” is one of those films that only come out once in a blue moon; when we’ve all done our chores, and said our blessings to the universe – then we get a film like “Stoker”.

Complex, beautiful, provocative, wonderfully acted, great dialogue, and stylistically beyond are some words you could use to describe it, but its more the indescribable feelings you are left with after leaving the picture, that truly speak to its prestige in the grand scheme of world cinema.

The term world cinema couldn’t be more appropriate in this case, as Korean Director Park (Chang-Wook of “Oldboy” fame) has choreographed this exquisitely sinister plot in a language foreign to most of the cast and crew. Even while working with the film’s biggest stars, a translator was used to communicate between actor and director. And while this is his first English language film, it will definitely not be his last. As any film buff knows, the language of film is universal, and from the film’s opening shots the director’s eye for detail and acute sensibility sing a song harking back to film makers of a time long gone like Bergman, Hitchcock, and Kubrick.

Many things spoke to us throughout the film, from Clint Mansell‘s (“Black Swan”) haunting score, the incredibly articulated and imaginative Production Design of Therese De Prez (another “Black Swan” veteran), Wentworth Miller (“Prison Break”) and Erin Wilson’s sophisticated script, as well as the acting chops of Matthew Goode ( playing against type as the mysterious Uncle with a dark past), Nicole Kidman (the lonely and vindictive mother), and most especially Mia Wasikowska, as India Stoker, the film’s protagonist.

This young starlet is always good in everything she is in, but almost expertly does she manage to tackle this role which requires her to be many things, most of the time without many words, making for a most appreciated and most memorable character in the past decade.

But what stood out in particular for us here at The Eye of Faith, had to be the incredible costume design by designer duo Kurt & Bart, who put together the looks to fully realize these strange personalities.

Indeed, they are very rich and very sophisticated, and from the moment India walks onto the screen in her crocodile skinned LaBoutins, flowy skirt and floral silken blouse – you just knew you were in for a style treat with this one.

In fact, throughout the film, the costumes play a great deal in helping enrich the story being told throughout. The designers point out a green Marni cardigan, worn during the film’s strange piano duet, noting how the colour of the cardigan matches the colours of the walls in her own house, symbolizing India’s captivity.

Also signature to the film’s main theme is a pair of shoes – saddle shoes, to be exact, which represent the more child-like and homely version of India, before she foregoes her inevitable transformation into womanhood.

Instead, they studied day dressed and blouses from the era and used them as inspiration in the creation of India’s wardrobe, adding extra details, and unique clasps and fastenings that would indicate India’s obsessively detailed nature, as well as her rejection of the everyday – that’s my girl!

She is not of this world, but of her own, and throughout the film we are by her side in her own elevated sense of reality.

I’m gonna bet there’s already been a rise in saddle shoe sales, and I’m hoping to see more girls unafraid to rock a pretty blouse and skirt combination. After all, its all in the attitude – the India Attitude.

She’s definitely a new idol of sorts; Nouveau-Gothic, in a way, with her pastel coloured blouses, and prim and proper way of dress, but grossly morose in her attitude and presentation to the world around her.

She is a representation of that breaking point from teen to adult, and that indefinite feeling of not belonging to the world that surrounds you, and doing everything you can to not fit into it. She’s a strange poster child for our generation, in that way.

There’s no doubting the staying power of this film, and in 25 years from now, we will still be looking back on this one as a great one on the level of psychological horrors like “The Shining” and “Rosemary’s Baby”. Even compared to those great classics, there is something very different here with “Stoker” that cannot be compared. Perhaps it is the contemporary nature of the story, and it taking place today that is very different.

These days American films don’t often delve into the lives of the rich and sophisticated to come out with a vision so twisted and maniacal, so perhaps it is the appropriateness of this action that really helps speak to the “nowness” of it all. There is no denying the conspiracies and secrets of the world’s most affluent families, and as history as shown us, they often hide the most terrible and terrifying secrets . . .

“Stoker” is a glimpse on what might just be the truth behind the family with the mansion, the housekeeper, the beautifully kept lawn, the designer furniture, valuable antiques, most incredible designer clothing, and carved stone art just laying about in the garden. After all, you never know . . .

From the very beginning it will really keep you guessing, but be warned – its not for the faint of heart. This is a thriller, and while director Park describes his film as a modern fairy tale, don’t be expecting ponies and rainbows from this one. There is a glass slipper at the end of it all – though be them black crocodile LaBoutins at the end of it all, which maybe a few hours afterwards will really strike you as a funny “Happy Ever After” to this very modern Fairy Tale; a fairy tale that, unlike most, challenges its audiences, and asks you to question the characters motives and uncover their vices to help us question ourselves and our own everyday anxieties.

So if there’s one thing you get up to this week its getting your butt out the door to see this film!

This is me. Just as a flower does not choose its colour, we are not responsible for what we come to be. Only once you realize this do you become free. And to become adult, is to become free.

-India, “Stoker” {2013}.

+

Dying for the look? Stay Tuned to The Eye of Faith for the tools to recreate Stoker’s sensual 1950s reinvention!

Alfonso Cuarón is without doubt one of our generations most ambitious and talented directors, whose latest film ‘Gravity’ has solidified him as a premiere auteur of the cinema, that is if his last film “Children of Men” didn’t already have you convinced.

The signs were there from the start.

A Mexican director, Cuarón made his English debut in 1995 with a retelling of the Edwardian classic, “A Little Princess” which reinvigorated new life into the tale of a young girl left at the mercy of a miserable, unforgiving, and demanding headmistress after the sudden death of her father. He turned what could have been a drab child’s tale into an intoxicating rich and exotic affair of the heart and imagination.

He followed this up with another adaptation of a classic, “Great Expectations” which starred Ethan Hawke, and featured an immaculate performance by Anne Bancroft, as well as Gwyneth Paltrow at the height of her 90s babe-ness. The film took the Dickensian tale of love lost and greed into a contemporary tale with equal visual splendor.

His latest film “Gravity”, however, is a film larger in scope than any of his previous (including “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of the Azkaban”), whilst also being perhaps the most simple in its premise. Sandra Bullock plays Dr. Ryan Stone, a first time astronaut sent by NASA to install new technologies onto the Hubble Space Telescope before the mission is rudely interrupted by a massive debris storm that wipes out not only her ride home, but what seems to be our entire world built in space. It’s a nail-biter of a film that follows her minute by minute as she quickly comes to grips with her will to survive. With a little encouragement from a rowdy veteran astronaut (played by George Clooney) she is able to get her wits about her, even as she is hurled through space time and time again.

Bullock plays Dr. Stone with a brilliance never before captured from the Hollywood icon even after winning her Best Actress Oscar for 2009’s The Blind Side. Bullock is able to capture the raw emotion of a woman catapulted into the abyss. She experiences it all: fear, sadness, overwhelming happiness, excitement, delirium, panic, loss, and joy. It’s a spectrum of emotion that very few actresses get to take on, and in turn, can pull of with half as much success. And damn does she look good. At 49, her body is as fit and toned as ever while her chiseled face is beautifully defined by the stark illumination of space giving us a unique perspective on the star we rarely get to see (she also really suits that short hair).

What is most exciting about “Gravity” is that while it could easily have been a different movie, Cuarón ensures the universality of its themes, and exhibits an unnerving sensibility to let us wait, and sit, and ponder the moment. After a calamity of events, Bullock makes it into the International Space Station and for a good minute we watch as she retreats into her body like a fetus and floats in space like a unborn baby in a womb. It’s moments like this that bring brilliance to what is undoubtedly Cuarón’s masterpiece. And while there are plenty of space movies, and good ones at that, this one needs to top the list of those released in the past decade, and comes a close second to the epitome of all movies in space- Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey”, which in itself is a mighty amazing feat.

Very rarely do films set in space capture the scope of themes and the realism needed to convey the heaviness of life in space. Its no joke, and it’s done without the presence of creepy extra terrestrials or intimidating other-world space craft. When it comes down to it, the most dangerous thing Ryan Stone faces is the presence of an almost non-presence- that of “Gravity” an invisible force that keeps us planted on the ground, and without can turn a single bolt into a deadly weapon that can obliterate even the most expensive and sophisticated technology we have under our belt.

This film makes you think, and ultimately that’s what movie-going is about. We enjoyed this film thoroughly, and expect to see this film as a strong contender at next year’s Academy Awards ceremony. In fact, I can smell tough competition already between Bullock and Blanchett for the coveted Best Actress win. Can Bullock pull a second win? She sure as hell deserves it. Also expect Cuarón in contention for Director, and his long-time cinematographer Emmanuelle Lubezki (“A Little Princess”, “Sleepy Hollow“, “Children of Men”, “The Tree of Life“) for his very first win.

A rare gem that will go unmatched for decades to come. See this film!!

One of the things we are always using are our headphones, which are pretty much glued to our ears from the moment we take to writing anything for The Eye of Faith.

We love to hear the constant stream of music to get us into our groove, and zone out the surrounding world in order to write the hundreds of articles you have been reading here. It’s a necessary tool of production in our books, and especially if you plan to write abroad (at a local cafe, or even venture downtown to one), a great pair is necessary to invoke the spirits of creativity.

You literally see hundreds in a day. There are chunky plastic forms everywhere attaching themselves to the ears of many. It’s hard to find the perfect pair for someone who wants to stand apart from the rest. We’ve tried many a pair to no avail, but have been so pleased to discover the look and sound of LSTN headphones, and their wicked nod to vintage style.

LSTN headphones are hand crafted from real, reclaimed exotic woods, which naturally create a dynamic and beautifully warm sound to them. Crisp highs, full mids, and powerful bass -perfect to block out the noise of the everyday, and look stylish and sophisticated in the process.

Whether you choose the stunningly pure Beech wood, rich and seductive Cherry, or dark and mysterious Ebony – these handsome materials are a gorgeous invocation of classic tastes, and the slick contours evoke a mid-century vibe that will never be out of fashion. Indeed, for an individual of discerning tastes, these are a definite must.

But, as much as it is about looking good, LSTN has made it their initiative to also give back. For every pair of headphones purchased, LSTN helps restore hearing to a child in need through the Starkey Hearing Foundation, which couldn’t be a more wonderful cause. There are over 275 million people in the world who are hearing impaired, and 95% of children in deaf schools can be helped simply by providing them with hearing aids. So buy a pair of headphones, and change a life.

Powerful stuff.

We were pleased to receive our pair of buds just the other week, and have hardly put them down since, so why not check out the LSTN official site and learn more about their initiative, and grab a pair of wickedly handsome headphones slick enough for a fashion time traveller, and powerful enough to take us straight into the future.

Every year the Cannes Film Festival whips around, you can guarantee to start feeling the summer start shining on in. Just picture the French Riviera, the movie stars, the palm fronds, and sail boats. Champagne in sandals . . . the works!

It’s like a nostalgia, really. I think everyone, once in their lives will make an appearance on that legendary red carpeted staircase. At least once in our many lives, I guarantee it.

Once again, the line-up of films is quite impressive, and the movie on everybody’s lips has got to be Sofia Coppola’s “The Bling Ring” which brings together Emma Watson, Taissa Farmiga, Katie Chang, Isreal Broussard as the real life clique of celebrity obsessed High Schoolers who made a splash in 2009 for their wild and childlike antics.

People want what they can’t have, and these kids just took it to the extreme in a whole new level. Its a lot about insecurity and acceptance, and if you get these things you might get the acceptance you are yearning for.

How could a bunch of teens possibly have the know-how to break into their most worshipped and idolized celebrities (names like Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, Audrey Patridge, and Orlando Bloom) and steal upwards of $3 million worth of clothes and jewelry ? Easy, really – Google. The film hopes to shed light on the perils of our society, who raise our bright and beautiful youth to become celebrity obsessed criminals. It’s all just a bit of fun, they think, until things get serious. . .

The film is getting a ton of praise for Sofia Copolla’s acute and withdrawn directing sensibilities, as well as its crisp cinematography by the late and legendary Harry Savides. However, this is not the only film to deal with the same startling themes.

You know the story, already, I’m sure. The story of Tom Ripley – “The Talented Mr. Ripley”. It was only 14 years ago that Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Jude Law starred in the lead roles of this classic thriller. Published in 1955, and written by Patricia Highsmith, the story would be the first in a slew of novels starring the notorious anti-hero, Tom Ripley.

“Purple Noon” would be Delon’s first big starring role, and it is what he brings to the camera that makes his performance the most magical and mesmerizing take on Mr. Ripley’s misguided eccentricities.

But, nevertheless, “Purple Noon” pays off with its on-point portrayal of the casual life, style, and luxury of the comfortably rich and famous. The menswear is sublime, and almost every shot is a tour-de-force of classic Mediterranean cool.

Tom Ripley is a chameleon of a man who begins to live the life of another more fabulous, and more wealthy man, and the best part is (for Ripley, least), this other man had a real knack for really great style. The rings, the loafers, the shirts, the jacket, the hair – it’s enough to make Daisy Buchanan break down in tears! How could he not want to take over this guy’s life?

This is the frightening paradox embedded within this maddeningly modern mystery.

“He loved possessions, not masses of them, but a select few that he did not part with. They gave a man self-respect. Not ostentation but quality, and the love that cherished the quality. Possessions reminded him that he existed, and made him enjoy his existence. It was as simple as that. And wasn’t that worth something? He existed. Not many people in the world knew how to, even if they had the money. It really didn’t take money, masses of money, it took a certain security.”

-Patricia Highsmith, “The Talented Mr. Ripley”

Take a look back and you can spot straight off the bat the timelessness of it all. It’s a film like “Purple Noon” that will stick in your memory forever, and become a staple repertoire of how you want to dress this summer: clean, cool, casual, and elegant. Those are just some keywords to keep in mind when venturing into these cool dark waters.

And even to a certain degree, become someone else if you have to. Moving through the streets with your cool clean shades on, feel the mystery embody you, and take to the streets like you’re about to buy them.

“Anticipation! It occurred to him that his anticipation was more pleasant to him than the experiencing.”

-Patricia Highsmith, “The Talented Mr. Ripley”

Moocher, Musician, Madman; Tom Ripley is an enigma in many respects, which makes him all the more powerful in his sinister quest. His behaviour can be criticised, but also, he can be completely understood.

Who doesn’t want that easy life? The life of luxury and ease that you read about in the magazines, filled with all those expensive clothes, and beautiful women. Think about if you had the chance to exchange your life for someone else’s. . . would you?

The teens that formed “The Bling Ring” would have to agree, and are a mighty monument to the same themes portrayed in “Purple Noon”.

Isn’t it scary to think that over 50 years later, the same anxieties that were fiction, have now come full circle and are as real as ever. Patricia Highsmith was definitely onto something, so if you want to get a head start on the entire thought process make sure to check out “Purple Noon” this summer, and maybe rock the Ripley edge (minus the murder).

The artist duo are known for their of-this-world out-of-this-world creations that combine objects, sound, images, mechanics, lighting, construction, and cinema to create one-of-kind experiments and showcases in the transcendental quality and nature of art.

As one of the world’s most internationally respected artist partnerships, we were lucky to get a chance to enjoy a retrospective of their work, in an exhibit appropriately title “Lost in the Memory Palace”, which runs from April 6 until August 18, 2013 at the Art Gallery of Ontario.

From the beginning of their partnership in 1995 to their work today, the artist duo have expertly managed to create evocative and multi-textural and dimensional works that transport its viewers to other worlds and often exotic states of mind.

The duo has cited cinema as a major driving force in their work, bringing the immersive technology of the cinema to life in a gallery setting, allowing the viewers an accessibility and availability that is mostly foreign to other works in the art gallery setting. While we are often encouraged to keep a distance in the world of art, Cardiff-Miller’s pieces are encouragingly tactile and require a closer look.

This is not a show that you can skim through and really “get” immediately. Going into it with this frame of mind would be disaster.

Like a film, the pieces require a dose of commitment, and an ability to get lost in the world being offered to you by the artists. The worlds are often slightly disturbing as you notice odd-looking effigies, or are startled by an abrupt sound; the element of mystery is definitely in the air, forcing you to question your own reality.

Such is the case with “Dark Pool”, the couple’s first installation created in 1995.

I like that the technology is so popular it is almost invisible so that people can become intimate with it. At the same time the recorded voice is removed and has a sense of past that a real voice doesn’t, so it can actually get closer to the audience through that removal. They feel safe being intimate with a removed voice.

You are invited to open a paint chipped antiquated door to enter a long, dark, small room filled to the brim with boxes, books, furniture, rolling racks, and antique objects. You might want to, at first, turn back in fear of what could be lurking in the shadows, but very quickly you find yourself exhilarated by curiosity. As you walk through the room, you hear voices and whispers from the past (children, an elderly woman, a young couple), and begin to notice the clues all around you:

An opened book on reading tea leaves sits behind a tray full of dirty empty tea cups. Two viewfinders, side by side, show a man and woman in a passionate embrace, the other shows a couple with signs of stagnant disdain. You see a collection of porcelain hands. A half-eaten biscuit on a plate. You hear the sound of Judy Garland launch from the radio singing her tragic anthem, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”. You notice a book that dictates the signs of mental instability.

Often times, as in the case of “Storm Room” (2009), the imagined world is created so thoroughly, you really do question whether the artists have perhaps maneuvered a time slip or some sort of trans-continental teleportation device to get you to the empty Dentist’s office near Tokamachi, Japan, that was recreated for the piece.

[Photo: N.M. Hutcgubson]

An elaborate system of pipes, lighting, and speakers provide an uber realistic rendition of finding yourself unsure, even whilst in the comfort of “safety”. You can hear the coughing of a neighbour in the next “room”, and while you wait for the storm to “end”, you find yourself wondering where exactly you might have landed.

[Photo: N.M. Hutcgubson]

As water streams down the windows, and the rolling sound of thunder rattles the floor, you notice a roll of Japanese dental floss, buckets filling with water, a telephone, some old Japanese calendars, and a floor fan that only helps instil the uncomfortable quality of a 1960s Hiroshi Teshigahara film.

[Photo: Seber Ugarte & Lorena Lopez]

Another unsettling piece, 2007’s “The Killing Machine”, transports to a world unexpected and unknown. Forcing the viewer to imagine the violence and pain of being held on its soft pink fur chair at the will of two elegantly choreographed, rotating stabbing wands, the piece is equally unsettling as it is beautiful.

[Photo: Seber Ugarte & Lorena Lopez]

A statement on the nature of capital punishment, as well as a riff off Franz Kafka’s “In the Penal Colony”, the piece works on the level that it blends these horrors with a beautiful array of coloured lights, a disco ball (who doesn’t love a disco ball?), and almost triumphant orchestration for a bizarrely amusing and eerie imagining of our society’s indifference to killing.

The most impacting piece, had to be the first piece ventured to in the gallery – “Opera for a Small Room” which the couple created in 2005. The piece is a 20 minute long immersion into the tale of a sad and mysterious man (“R DENNEHY”) who speaks throughout the piece about his sad tale of lost love, and a seemingly lost sense of self.

Contained in a small shed-like space filled to the brim with nearly 2,000 individual records, eight record players, and twenty-four antique loudspeakers; the piece encapsulate a mysterious, melancholy, and mildly sinister mood, all while telling the story of the strange man who embodies the space between the sounds of various arias, sounds, songs, and pop music. The entire story is aligned with the change of synchronized light and colour.

As the piece progresses you are enticed to circle the “room” to peer through the wall’s various cut-outs and doorways in hopes of gaining new perspectives on the world inside. As your eyes begin to wander you notice bowling trophies, suitcases, and other objects that add to this strange simulated reality. Its an opus of emotion, and another testament to the artists’ unique craft.

[Photo: Kunsthaus Bregenz]

Writing is like a 3-Dimensional process for me. The words and sentences have to work with a physical space, resonate with that space. One thing works on the page but it’s a different thing when they are juxtaposed with a physical environment.

Like a movie in real time playing before your eyes, the works of Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller are remarkable and exciting works of contemporary Canadian art that we are lucky enough to have gotten the chance to enjoy so closely and thoroughly.

The artists’ cinematic tendencies and unusual combination of various sound and media point to a world where the disparate worlds of various arts and industry can coincide and exist together, for engaging and elevating works of art that not only provide an aesthetic experience, but delve deep into the psyche to penetrate the world of dream, nightmare, and emotion.

To put it plainly, “Lost in the Memory Palace” is as close to Utopia as we’ve seen in this world yet. There are plenty of other pieces by the couple to enjoy at the exhibit, so be sure not to miss out on this incredibly poignant and realized showing on now at the AGO.

“Lost in the Memory Palace: Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller” at the Art Gallery of Ontario {April 6, 2013 – August 18, 2013}, for more info click here.

Midway upon the journey of our life
I found myself within a forest dark,
For the straightforward pathway had been lost. . .

Those were the first words we hear Don Draper speak in the season 6 premier of AMC’s hit show, “Mad Men” which aired last night. Dante Alighieri’s legendary Medieval poem is not one’s expected choice to be reading on the beaches of Mauii, but for Don Draper it seems to have opened many questions of himself.

You could even point out that throughout the series, Don has endured through many of the nine circles of sin described in Dante’s “Inferno” (such as gluttony, lust, and sin), so to capture the man of perceived strength and self confidence bring alongside with him a poem about the author’s personal midlife crisis really speaks volumes. Don, however, doesn’t speak for another 10 minutes into the episode.

Dante Alighieri’s “Inferno” is a piece of Dante’s collection of poems known as “The Divine Comedy“. Written between 1308 and his death in 1321, the work is still seen as a pinnacle in literacy for mankind, and is still read today by students and scholars around the world. Split into three parts: Inferno, Purgatoria, and Paradiso; the story tells of the author’s descent into hell before ascending to paradise.

And as Don puts it, “Heaven is a little morbid. How do you get to heaven? Something terrible has to happen”.

As Dante had Virgil at his side, Don has Sterling; and like Dante’s muse Beatrice, Don seems to have found a new muse in his latest mistress who leant him the copy for his vacation. It’s strange life he is living, but luckily he notes he must stop “doing this”, before he never figures it out.

A season back, or so, Don criticized Universities as a “Medieval” system, in an almost dismissive way, so its interesting to see him now delving into the pinnacle of Medieval philosophy. I guess it’s always good to stay well-rounded. And 800 year old wisdom, is just as good as any.

One of the most famous publications of “The Divine Comedy” featured engravings by French artist Gustave Doré, offering fantastical and surreal visuals to compliment Dante’s classic words. We thought them a wonderful showcase to accompany Don Draper and his voyage of self-discovery, and maybe provide a little insight and intrigue into the world of Dante Alighieri.

Mad Men Season 6 finally airs tomorrow night with a special 2-hour season premiere, and all of our favorites back in the swing of their slick, stylish, roller-coaster lifestyles.

The cast and crew haven’t revealed much, but we definitely have a ton of questions about where this season will take us, like –

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH DON DRAPER?!

Last time we saw Don he was recently married to Megan, handsome as ever, in a sweet downtown pad, and a little down on himself for his cheating ways. How will things turn out for him with that? Will it only get worse? Some shots have emerged of Don and Megan on vacation in Hawaii, but knowing their relationship, things are likely to become volatile on a dime (remember when he left Megan at the Howard Johnson?)

Definitely looking forward to seeing his new office in the brand new space they purchased at the end of last season.

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MEGAN DRAPER?!

Megan, the vivacious, ex-secretary turned copywriter, young wife of Don Draper was last scene on the fancy set of a commercial she landed, and with her exquisite French beauty, chances are she really will make it as an actress. Or, she may just find herself floundering. Who really knows. Definitely looking forward to her new Priscilla Presley-style hair-do!

Hopefully there will be some new Zsou-Bisou, Bisou . . .

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH SALLY DRAPER?!

Last time we saw Sally she had her period, kissed a boy, and started to look and act like a really cool young woman. Let’s hope she keeps it up. Or maybe she’ll get pregnant. That would be a shocker . . .

WHAT ABOUT ROGER STERLING?!

Last season we witnessed Roger Sterling tripping. Literally tripping – on LSD, with Angela Chases’ mom. And he pretty much took to it for the rest of the season, to the point it ripped apart his marriage with Jane. LSD is just one of those things. It didn’t seem to stop him, however, as it seemed to give him a whole new perspective on the way he looked at life. I guess, we’ll just have to stay tuned to see how this new perspective on life affects him this sixth season.

WHAT ABOUT JOAN ?!

Last season Joan was left with a baby, and got back her job at Sterling, Cooper, Draper, Price. She had to deal with some crazy shit, but that didn’t stop this brassy ginger bombshell. Does anything ever? She seems to have secured them a pretty sweet new office space (two stories high), so there will be plenty of things (and people) for her to put into place.

WHAT ABOUT PEGGY?

Peggy has got herself set up at a new agency, with her own office, and higher paying salary. Everything should be good, but she still has a bit of questioning in herself going on. On top of that, her strange relationship . . . Peggy will probably one of those characters they really have fun with this season.

It’s always fun to see her make mistakes, and try to be as cool as everyone else around her.

AND WHAT ABOUT BETTY???!!!

If anyone forgot, Betty Draper was FAT. Like fat suit, fat. Fat. Fat. Fat. She was doing weight watchers, and trying to watch what she ate, and slowly but surely she was getting a hold of her awkward eccentricities, that she had previously tried to ignore or weigh out. I think she’s gonna come back this season hotter than ever, and probably bitchier too.

Posts navigation

CLOTHING & LIFESTYLE Blog: Explorations of the [past/present/future]

SHOP THE {SHOP} !!!

The men and women who inspire…Style Idols and Divinities are unique individuals with style beyond the things they wear, but also the way they lived. Delve into their unique stories accompanied by an expansive array of photos to muse over!

BLOG ARCHIVE

BLOG ARCHIVE

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

The Eye of Faith {Vintage} is a brand dedicated to integrating time traveled wisdom from the {past} with the {present} to help shape the {future}. It is an age old symbol of believing in oneself, and having faith in your dreams. No longer must we be lost. We are a burgeoning society dedicated to an alternative to the purchase of affordable fashion forward apparel, accessories, and home decor. We also provide design services and consultation, as well as costume and styling. At our core, we are a source of inspiration and musing.
Please enjoy your time here.
If you have any questions, please email the.eye.of.faith@gmail.com